- Primary Subject: Ben Affleck
- Key Update: Ben Affleck revealed he turned down the offer to direct Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: October 13, 2026
- Quick Answer: Ben Affleck passed on directing Star Wars: The Force Awakens because he felt he lacked the passion required to deliver a movie fans would love.
Ben Affleck could have been part of the Star Wars universe if he had not passed on the opportunity to direct the start of the sequel trilogy, The Force Awakens.
Affleck has been part of two major superhero franchises: Marvel, when he played Daredevil in a 2003 movie, and the DC Extended Universe, where he portrayed Bruce Wayne / Batman in several movies.
Had he accepted the offer, he could have been involved in three of the biggest franchises in cinema history. So, why did Affleck turn down being part of the Galaxy Far, Far Away?
Why Did Ben Affleck Refuse to Direct Star Wars: The Force Awakens?
The Force Awakens was the first Star Wars film distributed by Disney after the company acquired Lucasfilm in 2012.
While the movie received positive reviews and was a box office success, it still faced its fair share of criticism and backlash.
But things could have been different for The Force Awakens, as J.J. Abrams wasn’t the only director Disney considered to helm the film. Ben Affleck was also approached.
“They came to me and asked me, hey are you interested in this. I don’t know that that meant they weren’t also talking to JJ or other people,” the actor said on Josh Horowitz’s Happy, Sad, Confused podcast. “I thought, hey, I like Star Wars, and I’m a fan, but I’m not the person to direct this movie.”
The Gone Girl star believed someone else “who has more passion” for the franchise could do a better job than him.
In fact, he couldn’t even describe his refusal as “great self-sacrificing” because he had no idea whether he could “make a great version of Star Wars or reinvent” it after the previous movies' success.
“A lot of challenges to reinventing that. In fact, that you’ve seen played out. It hasn’t been easy for them to reinvent that franchise,” he continued. “And you’ve got this whole fanbase that’s got its own very strong opinions.”
Affleck added that The Force Awakens was just one of the many scripts he had received as a director. But despite the opportunity to be part of a huge franchise, he felt he couldn’t do it.
“I just thought, like, I don’t think I can do it as well as somebody else, and I don’t want to direct something that I don’t feel like I have a chance to be really, really proud of,” he explained.
What’s Next for Star Wars in 2027?
In 2026, Star Wars released only one theatrical movie, The Mandalorian & Grogu, along with several Disney+ projects, including Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, LEGO Star Wars: The Mandalorian, and Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi.
But 2027 promises to be a big year, with the franchise celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Following the disappointing box office performance of The Mandalorian & Grogu, Star Wars will try to reclaim its box office standing with the upcoming Ryan Gosling-led movie, Star Wars: Starfighter. The film is scheduled to be released on May 28, 2027.
Meanwhile, Ahsoka Season 2 will finally hit the small screen after nearly four years of waiting. Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) will reunite with her former Padawan, Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo), to stop Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen) from rebuilding the Empire and threatening the New Republic.
The new season is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ on January 20, 2027.
After just a year, Darth Maul is also expected to return in Maul – Shadow Lord Season 2, following his search for a new apprentice and attempts to rebuild his criminal enterprise while plotting revenge against Emperor Palpatine.
While details about the new season have yet to be announced, fans may get to continue following his journey sometime in 2027.
With a new theatrical movie, the return of Ahsoka, and more animated adventures on the way, 2027 could be another exciting year for Star Wars fans.
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